Ireland with Are We There Yet?

By Diane Harrison
This item appears on page 30 of the January 2018 issue.
Statue of Annie Moore and her brothers at the Cobh Heritage Centre in Cobh. Moore was the first immigrant processed at Ellis Island. Photo by Diane Harrison

My parents and I took the “Ireland Express” tour, Sept. 3-9, 2017, with Are We There Yet? Tours (St. Louis, MO; 314/304-3508, www.arewethereyet dea.com). It included several sites we had not visited on three previous trips to Ireland plus sites we were revisiting.

At $2,399 per person, double occupancy, including airfare from St. Louis, Missouri, “Ireland Express” was a new tour for the company, which is operated by Dea Hoover. Dea and her husband, Declan Rutan, accompany all of their international and domestic tours. We had previously traveled on more than 10 of their domestic trips.

In Ireland, Enchanted Ireland Tours (Tiernaboul, Killarney, Co. Kerry) was their local ground operator. 

There were fewer than 20 people in our group, making it possible for us to visit less “touristy” sites, such as Bunratty Castle & Folk Park, Foynes Flying Boat & Maritime Museum and the Queenstown Story exhibition in the Cobh Heritage Centre.

The trip also included a half-day scenic drive on the Dingle Peninsula, which is less traveled than the nearby Ring of Kerry.

Overnight stays (five of which were in hotels) included the towns of Dingle and Kinsale. All hotels were at least 4-star.

Ancient beehive hut on the Dingle Peninsula. Photo by Diane Harrison

The tour included breakfast each day but did not include other meals, allowing tour members the flexibility to seek dining options on their own.

DIANE HARRISON
Chesterfield, MO